Christopher Makos: Lady Warhol

About this book

This is not Andy Warhol as we are accustomed to seeing him: in dramatic eyeliner and mascara an asymmetrical blond bob worthy of a Vogue cover circa 1987 his hands clutched girlishly at his upper thigh; or with a glisteningly lipsticked cupids bow shadowed eyes downcast; or draped from the armpits down in a white sheet his upper chest startlingly pale. In these portraits made by Christopher Makos (born 1948) the gender-transgressive themes of the 1980s collide with the spirit of Man Rays famous "Rrose Slavy" pictures of Marcel Duchamp as a coy Parisian lady. The project entailed Makos recalls "eight wigs two days of posing 16 contact sheets 349 shots"; this volume includes Makos original contact sheets an essay by the photographer about his friendship with Warhol and full-page prints of the most striking images to emerge from one of Pops most singular photo shoots.